Chow's mayoral lead tightens against Bradford in new poll
Support for Mayor Olivia Chow drops to 35%, while Councillor Brad Bradford climbs to 30%. In a head-to-head race, Bradford would narrowly win.
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Mayor Olivia Chow's lead in the mayoral race is narrowing significantly, with Councillor Brad Bradford gaining ground in a new poll released Tuesday.
According to Mainstreet Research, Chow maintains a lead in a multi-candidate field with 35 per cent support, compared to 30 per cent for Bradford. Among decided voters, Chow's support rises to 43.6 per cent versus 37.8 per cent for Bradford. However, in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Bradford narrowly edges out the incumbent mayor, earning 51.9 per cent support compared to Chow's 48.1 per cent.
The results mark a dramatic shift from Mainstreet's February snapshot, which included former mayor John Tory. At that time, Bradford's support stood at just 17 per cent, suggesting he has consolidated significant support since then.
Broader dissatisfaction with the city's direction is evident in the poll. More than 60 per cent of respondents said Toronto is headed in the wrong direction, while just 23.2 per cent believe the city is on the right track. Chow's approval rating sits at 41 per cent, with more than 55 per cent disapproving of her performance. When asked how likely they are to support Chow in the next election, 45 per cent said they would definitely not vote for her, while 17 per cent said they would definitely support her.
Traffic and congestion topped voter concerns at 27.3 per cent, followed by affordability at 25.8 per cent and crime and public safety at 23.5 per cent. The survey was conducted between June 12 and June 18, 2026, among 1,157 Toronto residents aged 18 and older, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.